After two years of relentless warfare and unimaginable suffering, a historic ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect today at noon Cairo time, halting one of the bloodiest chapters in the region’s history. Brokered through intense U.S.-led diplomacy, the truce marks the first stage of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace framework, a plan aiming to end hostilities, release hostages, and chart a course toward Gaza’s reconstruction.
The deal, finalized after three days of indirect negotiations in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, was announced late Wednesday. Though the accord offers a moment of relief, it remains fraught with uncertainty. Both sides have agreed to the initial phase, but crucial issues — Gaza’s governance, Hamas’s future, and the path toward Palestinian statehood — are yet to be resolved.
A Ceasefire at Last
Under the agreement, fighting will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will release hostages captured in the October 2023 attacks, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
A source familiar with the negotiations said Israeli troops will begin pulling back within 24 hours of the deal’s signing. Hamas is expected to release 20 Israeli hostages still believed to be alive by Sunday or Monday, while 26 more have been declared dead in absentia. The fate of two hostages remains uncertain, and Hamas has indicated it may take time to locate and recover the bodies of those killed.
The first phase of the accord also includes humanitarian corridors, allowing unrestricted entry of food, fuel, and medical supplies into Gaza for the first time in nearly two years. Israel, in return, will release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 other detainees.
Celebrations in Gaza and Tel Aviv
As news of the ceasefire spread, celebrations erupted across Gaza and Israel, scenes unimaginable just days ago.
In Khan Younis, Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo said, “Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing. All of the Gaza Strip is happy — all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire.”
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, families who had spent two years campaigning for their loved ones’ release gathered under glowing red flares. Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan is among the remaining hostages, broke down in tears:
“I can’t breathe … I can’t explain what I’m feeling. What do I say to him? Hug and kiss him. Just tell him that I love him — that’s it.”
Even as jubilation filled the air, Israeli strikes reportedly continued overnight, with explosions in Shejaia, Tuffah, and Zeitoun in Gaza City. The Gaza Health Ministry said nine Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, a grim reminder of how fragile the truce remains.
The Framework: Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan
The agreement marks the first phase of Trump’s 20-point framework, unveiled just one day after the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which triggered Israel’s devastating offensive.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
According to the plan:
Phase 1: Ceasefire, hostage-prisoner exchange, and humanitarian relief.
Phase 2: Full Israeli withdrawal, demilitarization talks, and reconstruction planning.
Phase 3: Long-term peace agreement and Gaza governance under international supervision.
The next stage of Trump’s initiative envisions an international body, led by Trump himself and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition. Arab countries backing the framework — including Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia — insist the process must ultimately lead to Palestinian statehood, a demand Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected.
Political Tensions in Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the deal as a “diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for Israel.” Yet divisions within his governing coalition threaten to undermine the fragile peace.
Far-right ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, condemned any compromise with Hamas. Smotrich declared that “Hamas must be destroyed once the hostages are returned,” and said he would not support the ceasefire, though he stopped short of threatening to collapse the government.
These tensions could shape the pace and durability of the ceasefire, as hawkish factions continue to oppose any concessions perceived as rewarding Hamas.
A War That Redefined the Region
The Gaza war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, claimed 1,200 Israeli lives and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory campaign devastated Gaza, leaving over 67,000 Palestinians dead and more than 2 million displaced.
Beyond Gaza, Israel’s military expanded its reach, launching major offensives against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian targets in a brief but deadly 12-day conflict with Tehran, killing several top Iranian commanders. These operations significantly shifted the Middle Eastern power balance in Israel’s favor but at a steep diplomatic cost.
Global outrage has surged over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with multiple UN inquiries, human rights experts, and international scholars accusing Israel of committing genocide — charges Israel dismisses as “absurd,” insisting its actions are acts of self-defense.
Arab and Global Reactions
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called the agreement “an historic moment for peace and humanity.”
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry welcomed it as “an important step toward achieving a comprehensive and just peace in the region.”
Turkey and Qatar expressed cautious optimism, emphasizing the need for reconstruction and long-term guarantees for Palestinian sovereignty.
Meanwhile, European leaders urged continued engagement to prevent a relapse into war, warning that the region cannot afford another collapse like the failed January 2025 truce.
The Fragile Dawn
For now, Gaza’s battered population clings to hope. Streets once filled with smoke and mourning are now echoing with cautious cheers. Yet with unresolved political, territorial, and ideological disputes still festering, the road to genuine peace remains long.
As one Gaza resident summed it up:
“This is not victory. This is survival — and the chance to start again.”
